Sunday, March 1, 2015

A Word from Your Pastor - February 22 Lent I

Dear Parishioners:

The Temptation of Jesus is a sobering reality.  As St. Mark puts it, Jesus remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” Following this experience, He came out of the Desert with the First Proclamation of the Gospel. This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Encounter with God involves meeting both the beast and the angel.  At times, this may be outside ourselves.  But we must also admit that within our own hearts are the earth-bound and the vision of Eternity. 

Native Americans tell the story of two wolves:  An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...  "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. 

"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 
"Which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."

Jesus’ response to this battle going on inside and outside of us is to confront it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The move of the Spirit leads us then to go beyond where we have been, to seek fulfillment in a living relationship with God, acknowledging His rule over us.  God must be first in our lives or we are not on the road to the Kingdom.  We must repent, that is, change our minds, re-think, see from God’s perspective rather than the way the world sees.  The Gospel tells us that the world is destined for more, for something greater, for something beyond our imagining.


As we journey through Lent, may we face temptation with courage and learn to trust more fully in the grace of God to see us through.

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